Everybody has the occasional bad day at work or the Monday morning blues, but when your bad days over rule the rest of your life and everyday feels like Monday, it’s time to stop, take stock, and evaluate your options. It might even be time for a career change.
Take the following test:
You’re chronically exhausted, apathetic, bored. Y N
You have no passion or enjoyment in the work. Y N
Work leaves your feeling stresses and unhappy. Y N
Your boss fails to notice your talents and contributions. Y N
You believe your time and talents are wasted. Y N
You see little or no opportunities for growth. Y N
You aren’t working to your potential. Y N
You don’t connect with your coworkers. Y N
You don’t support your company’s mission and/or product. Y N
You are only staying for the financial security. Y N
Your salary is no longer compensating for your unhappiness. Y N
You’re jealous of friends in other careers. Y N
Your unhappiness is affecting your relationships. Y N
If you answered yes to five or more statements, it’s time to take action. Does that mean change your career? Not necessarily. The first item on the agenda is to set an appointment with your family physician and have a complete physical. You may be suffering from depression caused by physical issues or even dealing with a food intolerance.
Once you’ve ruled out outside factors, pinpoint the real issues.
• What are the issues that drain you each day?
• Why are your discouraged?
If the main culprits are the company culture, issues with coworkers, or frustration with your boss, these are environmental issues. So are issues like unhappiness with your hours or driving too far to work. Environmental issues often indicate a need for a job, rather than career, change. Solving the issue may boil down to doing the same line of work for another company – one with a more compatible culture or more flexible hours. Sometimes it can be as simple as changing departments within the company.
On the other hand, if your boss and your co-workers really are decent chaps and you just can’t find enjoyment or fulfillment in what you are doing, it’s job-related and a career change may be your best, and possibly only, option.
Before you jump ship, however, consider the following:
• Assess your core values: What is important to you? Where do you find fulfillment?
• Think logistically and strategically: Is there a job that uses a skill set that is similar to yours, but fits these criteria? Will you need additional training? How much time and money will this training require? Write out a timetable.
• Take a career test: Even if you’re 50+, it may provide insight into what’s really at stake.
• Volunteer: Consider doing volunteer work as a means to “try out” different lines of work.
• Sideline: If your new career involves your own business, work it on the side until you build up enough clients to go fulltime.
• Talk it out: Unless you’re single and living on your own, your change will affect others. Talk about it with them. Seek and value their input. Discuss lifestyle and financial changes that you will need to make until you are stabilized in your new career.
Well thought out and strategically planned career changes can be pivotal in your ultimate success and joy in life. Contact Springborn Staffing. We will help you evaluate and move forward in Portland and Bangor, Maine.
